Commission on Asian Pacific American AffairsHighlights of 2015-2018 Strategic Plan Accomplishments

Presentation to CAPAA Board on June 16, 2018

About the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA)

Launched by community activists in the early 1970s and formally created by the 43rd Washington State Legislature in 1974 to help all Asian Pacific Americans achieve full equality and inclusion (43.117 RCW).Missiono To improve the well-being of Asian Pacific

Americans by ensuring their access to participation in the fields of government, business, education, and other areas.

About the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA)

Primary Dutieso Examine and define issues pertaining to the

rights and needs of Asian Pacific Americans.o Make recommendations to the governor,

legislature, and state agencies with respect to desirable changes in program and law.

o Advise state government agencies on the development and implementation of comprehensive and coordinated policies, plans, and programs focusing on the special problems and needs of Asian Pacific Americans.

Board of CommissionersJune 2018

CAPAA has an advisory board consisting of 12 governor-appointed commissioners representing the state’s diverse Asian Pacific American communities.

Ty Tufono-Chaussee, Chair

Lisa Dickinson, 1st Vice Chair

Dr. Tam Dinh, 2nd

Vice Chair

Roslyn Leon Guerrero

Nam Nguyen

Lynette Finau Lori Wada Mohan Gurung

Ekkarath SisavatdyDr. Lakshmi Gaur Dr. Ka`imi Sinclair Sina Sam

Overview of WA AAPI Populations

AAPIs are comprised of more than 48 distinct ethnic groups.

Asian Americans: more than 600,000 (7th largest) and fastest growing in the state & nation

Pacific Islanders: more than 70,000 (3rd largest) and among the fastest growing in the state & nation

About the 2015-2018 Strategic Plan

The Commission’s 2015-2018 strategic planserved as a key road map to address challenges and opportunities that continue to face our state’s most diverse population group in the areas of education, health and human services, and economic development.As we near the end of 2018, the Commission is assessing our progress and accomplishments over the last four years and beginning a new effort to develop a 2019-2022 strategic plan.

About the 2015-2018 Strategic Plan

The following presentation represents highlights of progress and accomplishments over the last four years related to the Commission’s goals:o Close educational opportunity gapso Identify health disparities and promote solutionso Support business owners with knowledge, tools,

and resources required for successFor more information about other Commission priorities and accomplishments, view Commissioner reports, Executive Director reports, board meeting minutes, and committee information at capaa.wa.gov.

Objective: Examine and define the educational opportunity gaps as it impacts AAPI studentsBoard meeting presentations examined and/or defined:o Recommendations from the state Educational Opportunity

Gap Oversight and Accountability Committeeo Strategies to improve the quality and accountability of

bilingual education programso Changes to state education standards and curriculumo Ways to assist families through the Education Ombudso Race, equity, and inclusion at two and four-year collegeso Strategies to improve Pacific Islander and SE Asian

educational outcomeso Expanding collection of AAPI disaggregated data

Education GoalClose the educational opportunity gaps that impact Asian Pacific American students.

Objective: Examine and define the educational opportunity gaps as it impacts AAPI studentsDefined opportunity gaps through data and publications:o Supported the National Commission on AAPI Research in

Education’s (CARE) efforts to produce their report, The Hidden Academic Opportunity Gaps Among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: What Disaggregated Data Reveals in Washington State (WA iCount Report)

o Worked with State Board for Community & Technical Colleges to report Asian & Pacific Islander student enrollment separately and to produce an issue briefadvising CTCs about AAPI opportunity gaps

o Posted WA State AAPI educational attainment data by ethnic groups on the CAPAA website

Education GoalClose the educational opportunity gaps that impact Asian Pacific American students.

Education GoalClose the educational opportunity gaps that impact Asian Pacific American students.

Objective: Increase awareness about the opportunity gaps that impact AAPI studentsInformed & engaged the public and/or policymakers through:o Ethnic newspapers and radio stationo Tabling and distribution of Washington State iCount

Report at community events, including a forum co-hosted by CAPAA, CARE, Our Future Matters, and SE Asian Education Coalition

o Education roundtables in Seattle and Toppenish o Nepalese community education roundtable on World

Language Credit Program and Office of Education Ombudso Community focus groups for the Race & Ethnicity Student

Data Task Forceo OSPI brochures on chronic absenteeism, which were

translated in five Pacific Islander languages as requested by CAPAA

Objective: Advocate for targeted strategies that will close the educational opportunity gaps for AAPI studentsThe Commission and its representatives advised:o 10 education-related state committees, including the

Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight & Accountability Committee and Race & Ethnicity Student Data Task Force, to shape state policies

o Legislative committees by urging the passage of legislation to close opportunity gaps

o University of Washington to retain and increase faculty in Asian American Studies

Education GoalClose the educational opportunity gaps that impact Asian Pacific American students.

Health & Human Services GoalIdentify health disparity issues specific to AAPIs and support identification and promotion of solutions.

Objective: Examine and define health disparities that impact AAPIsBoard meeting presentations examined and/or defined:o Health equity for COFA Islanderso Mental health & well-beingo Youth marijuana & e-cigarette prevention effortso Community-based organizations working to improve the

health & well-being of AAPIso Prevalence of diabetes among AAPIs

Health & Human Services GoalIdentify health disparity issues specific to AAPIs and support identification and promotion of solutions.

Objective: Examine and define health disparities that impact AAPIsDefined health disparities through data and publications:o Expanded collection of disaggregated data on Healthy

Youth Survey and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

o Convened community meetings with COFA Alliance National Network and COFA communities to learn about health disparities and access to health care

o Posted WA State AAPI health insurance coverage data by ethnic groups on the CAPAA website

Health & Human Services GoalIdentify health disparity issues specific to AAPIs and support identification and promotion of solutions.

Objectives: Raise awareness of health disparities that impact AAPIsInformed & engaged the public and/or policymakers through:o Sharing data and experiences of AAPIs in accessing and

navigating the health care systemo Promotion of mental health awareness through summit

workshops and community conversations and ethnic newspapers, radio, and television

o Promotion of Mental Health Awareness in Communities of Color Month proclamation

o Summit and community meetings on stomach cancer

Health & Human Services GoalIdentify health disparity issues specific to AAPIs and support identification and promotion of solutions.

Objectives: Advocate for targeted strategies, including culturally-appropriate wellness and prevention approaches that will address health disparities for AAPIsThe Commission and its representatives advised:o Seven state committees on issues related to health

disparities and health equityo Legislators, state agencies, and health care advocates

about the urgent need to improve COFA Islander health equity

o Department of Health and Health Care Authority to collect and utilize AAPI disaggregated health data

Health & Human Services GoalIdentify health disparity issues specific to AAPIs and support identification and promotion of solutions.

Objectives: Take prudent and proactive steps on reducing disparate impacts of marijuana legalization on AAPI communities.CAPAA supported efforts to prevent underage use through:o Monitoring Initiative 502 implementationo Advocacy to collect disaggregated data on Healthy Youth

Survey to improve understanding of impacts on AAPIso Advocacy to increase funding available for community

grants to prevent underage use of marijuanao Collaboration with Asian Pacific Islanders Advocating

Together for Healthy Communities (APICAT) to learn about impacts and strategies

o Distribution of translated information cards about preventing underage use of recreational marijuana

o Raising awareness using ethnic media

Economic Development GoalSupport AAPI business owners and those seeking to start &maintain a business with the knowledge, tools, and resources required to be successful.

Objectives: Examine and define economic development issues that impact AAPI businessesBoard meeting presentations examined and/or defined:o State contracting and procuremento Programs and services of Dept. of Enterprise Serviceso Strategies to support small and immigrant-owned

business

Defined economic development issues through data:o Posted WA State AAPI housing, income, poverty, and

occupation data by ethnic groups on the CAPAA website

Economic Development GoalSupport AAPI business owners and those seeking to start & maintain a business with the knowledge, tools, and resources required to be successful.

Objectives: Develop and advocate for targeted strategies that will promote economic development opportunities for AAPI businesses.The Commission and its representatives advised:o Dept. of Commerce’s Minority Business Roundtable on

strategies to grow and support small businesso Dept. of Labor & Industries on outreach strategies to

engage with Korean American business ownerso Snohomish County business leaders at an economic

roundtableo Community members on opportunities to promote place-

making and community-building

Economic Development GoalSupport AAPI business owners and those seeking to start & maintain a business with the knowledge, tools, and resources required to be successful.

Objectives: Increase state agency and educational institution utilization of minority-owned businesses.The Commission and its representatives:o Advocated for strategies to increase procurement and

contracting opportunities on the Governor’s Business Diversity Sub-cabinet

o Met with the Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises (OMWBE) and Department of Transportation to discuss supplier diversity efforts

o Assisted OMWBE on outreach strategies to diverse businesses

Contact

Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American AffairsCapitol Court BuildingSuite 2201110 Capitol Way SouthOlympia, WA 98501

Michael Itti, Executive DirectorSam Le, Project Coordinator

(360) 725-5667www.capaa.wa.gov